Hemp PLA Filament, Entwined, Released by 3D Fuel » 3D Printing Media Network
19 Dec
Blog

Hemp PLA Filament, Entwined, Launched by 3D Gas » 3D Printing Media Community

The wait – 3D printing with hemp filament! Entwined is a 3D printing filament made from industrial hemp grown and processed in the USA. Industrial hemp crops do not require herbicides, pesticides and grow more densely compared to corn.

The detangled hemp filament does not use any dyes, which means that it retains a real natural brown. It’s almost dazzling in its ability to present different shades and densities within the same printed object. There is a large amount of visible organic filling, something you don’t get with standard PLA.

This is the third in a series of fascinating materials in an ongoing partnership between 3D-Fuel and the biocomposite company c2renew. More distinctive bio-based products will be released shortly.

Entwined hemp filament can be printed on any device that can print with PLA using standard PLA settings.

Print settings

Entwined prints well at 180-210 ° C. In general, a good starting point is 10 degrees cooler than you would normally print PLA. A heated bed is not required. However, if you have one, set it to 45C.

Filament information

Quality: All 3D-Fuel 3D printer filaments are manufactured in our own production facility in Fargo, North Dakota or Moville, Ireland (depending on the customer location). We have complete control over the manufacturing process and are able to ensure consistent quality for every coil.

Diameter tolerance: A variable diameter can cause major problems in your 3D printer. We use a multi-axis laser measurement system to control our filament diameter and ovality in real time during production. Each reel has the diameter and ovality dimensions that are listed directly on the packaging.

Packing information: A 500g of detangled hemp filament plastic filament comes on an easy-to-use plastic roll and is vacuum sealed with a desiccant package to keep moisture out.

Test print: The 3D fuel test lab offers 3D printers from various brands including MakerBot, LulzBot, FlashForge and more. We 3D print what we make to ensure our filament is of the absolute best quality possible.

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taulman_logo
19 Dec
Blog

New & Improved PETG: Taulman3D Releases TECH-G 3D Printing Filament with Excessive Energy, Restricted Elongation – 3DPrint.com

The world of materials for 3D printing has grown huge, as has the growing global catalog of transformative innovations that we are now gifted with. And while there are many different filaments and alternative sources to draw from, there are just as many problems, concerns, and drawbacks that are specific to each project, printer, and user.

Companies like Taulman3D specialize in helping users do something simple: create more 3D printed things – right. However, they provide us with a huge amount of information on the go, and it’s always a highlight when one of their new products shows up – which is quite common compared to other manufacturers.

oneFounded by Thomas Martzall, the filament manufacturing company consists of a team that is knowledgeable about materials and chemicals and continues to strive for new innovations and horizons for filaments, each with unique characteristics suitable for a wide variety of users looking for specific ones Elements for their own requirements.

Taulman is currently announcing the release of TECH-G, a PETG filament designed to provide even higher strength with limited elongation.

PETG filaments are becoming increasingly popular and are a modified version of the simpler PET, a non-toxic thermoplastic polymer resin used to make clothing and products such as containers. PETG filaments are an attractive and viable option because of their low melting temperature and their durability and flexibility in the finished state. PETG is a good alternative to ABS or nylon and usually offers transparency as well.

While PLA and ABS have traditionally been used, and especially by engineering firms, for “initial form and fitness assessments”, the Taulman team was aware that the overall strength of these filaments would limit the usefulness and potential of 3D models many times over.

“In the case of PLA, it was the brittleness of medium-sized or larger parts that severely restricted the functional test,” explains the Taulman team. “With ABS, the limit has always been tensile strength.”

TECH-G technical data for 3D printing:

  • Tensile Strength – 5,900+ PSI
  • Elongation – 3%
  • IZOD notch – 2.14 ft-lbf / in
  • Color – clear (colorless without added coloring)
  • Odors – none
  • Transmission – 90%
  • Printing temperature – 235 ° C – 240 ° C.

qENKNrMeDVBfed-H3_vtBFJ_yPJk5NUjVW2eY9vHlWoTECH-G is a clear, odorless virgin polymer found in standard 1kg spools. It is available in both 1.75mm and 2.85mm sizes. In fact, almost as transparent as T-glass we reported on earlier in the year, this is a material known as co-polyester. The Taulman team suggests several tips for using with TECH-G, such as:

  • Users should use lower fans when printing PLA polymers
  • The best printing surface for a glass finish is printing on heated glass at 72 ° C.
  • For a quick release bed, users should wipe a glass heated to 45 ° C with 50% PVA and 50% water
  • Print temperatures vary slightly with nozzle size, but the average is 238 ° C.
  • If too much is printed at too high a temperature, bubbles will appear in the printed thread, and if too cold the thread will appear cloudy

Earlier this year, TECH-G was released in a test phase where users can try it out and give Taulman feedback on its performance. After its release, Taulman sees TECH-G as a new and easier to use material for 3D printing. It offers higher tensile strength and just the right stretch for functional tests. TECH-G is FDA compliant with CFR 177.1315.

Have you had the opportunity to test this new filament? Let us know in the TECH-G forum thread on 3DPB.com.

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RIZIUM GF filament
19 Dec
Blog

RIZE launches RIZIUM Glass Fiber composite filament » 3D Printing Media Community

The 3D printing company RIZE has expanded its material portfolio with the introduction of RIZIUM Glass Fiber (GF), a composite filament with high rigidity and good dimensional stability. The fiberglass-reinforced material is compatible with the company’s full-color 3D printing and is well suited for manufacturing large parts.

RIZIUM Glass Fiber is based on the company’s cyclic olefin-based matrix, which has been specially developed to minimize emissions. Not only does the material generate no emissions at extrusion temperatures, it also has low moisture absorption and high chemical resistance, making it suitable for a wide variety of applications. RIZIUM GF gives these properties high dimensional stability and superior strength.

The new material is compatible with all RIZE 3D printers, including systems from RIZIUM Alliance partners. Like the existing materials, RIZE’s RIZIUM GF has received GREENGUARD certification for use with the XRIZE full-color 3D composite printing system. This means it can be used safely in schools, offices, hospitals or any other enclosed space.

“Previously, full-color 3D printing applications could only provide poor approximations of the original, and users often avoided large parts or complex geometries because they could warp or tear,” said Andy Kalambi, CEO of RIZE. “We are excited to drive a renaissance in industrial manufacturing with better 3D printing materials and technologies.

“With RIZIUM Glass Fiber’s high dimensional stability and durability and GREENGUARD certification for low chemical emissions, users have the flexibility to expand the applications suitable for 3D printing. Expect more from us soon about further expansions to our RIZIUM Alliance so that all 3D printing users can work in safer, more sustainable and more adaptable environments. “

The range of materials from RIZE does not only consist of filaments. The company’s color offering is based on a twofold approach: first, RIZIUM filaments are deposited to build the geometry of the part, while RIZIUM inks are sprayed for coloring. To optimize ink adhesion, RIZE’s filaments are all developed using the Augmented Polymer Deposition (APD) process, which makes it easier to combine filament and ink.

The new RIZIUM GF is particularly well suited for building large, complex parts as it is strong enough to support geometries that would otherwise be prone to warping. “We like the printing reliability that RIZIUM Glass Fiber provides for the RIZE line of products,” said Ronnie Sherrer, application engineer at Azoth, an AM supplier to Ann Arbor. “Azoth can rely on the quality and strength of the RIZIUM GF parts. Our customers love turning 3D rendered models into precisely colored parts. “

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Gizmodorks hip filament
19 Dec
Blog

HIPS Filament Properties and Greatest Manufacturers

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In the field of filaments used in 3D printing, ABS and PLA are undoubtedly way ahead in terms of popularity. There are a few more options, however – maybe not that common, but useful nonetheless. One of them is the HIPS filament

The basics

HIPS stands for High Impact Polystyrene. It is a graft copolymer that combines polystyrene and polybutadiene. The result is an inexpensive plastic that combines the best of both worlds: the rigidity and toughness of polystyrene and the flexibility and shock absorption of polybutadiene. The resulting polymer has elasticity that standard polystyrene does not have. It’s stronger without being brittle, and it’s more capable of getting stronger punches without breaking, hence the “High Impact” qualifier on its name.

What is HIPS used for?

In and of itself, HIPS is an inexpensive and easy to manufacture plastic with excellent impact resistance and machinability. It is an easily malleable material with excellent dimensional stability and is easy to paint and glue. Outside of 3D printing, HIPS is used to make food containers because natural HIPS has been declared FDA compliant for food processing applications. You’ve likely seen HIPS used for hot and cold beverage mugs, refrigerator linings, computer cases, automotive instrument panels, toys, and TV parts.

In the field of 3D printing, HIPS is probably best known as an excellent carrier material. Why do you need support material? If you want to 3D print an intricate design with overhang features, you will likely need to incorporate support structures into the design. This is mainly due to the functional limitations of 3D printers that require objects to be printed in layers from the bottom up. Overhanging features therefore require supports underneath to avoid warping, warping, or collapsing.

HIPS is an excellent carrier material, especially when printing with ABS. This is due to the ability of HIPS to easily dissolve in limonene, a readily available solvent that is extracted from the skin of lemons. A print made of ABS with support structures made of HIPS only needs to be soaked around the clock so that the support structures can completely dissolve – knives, grinding or scraping are not required. The result is smoother, flawless print without much manual labor.

Why do the HIPS work best with ABS? This is because the printing temperatures of HIPS and ABS are almost identical. This means there is no risk of either deforming due to temperature differences.

HIPS and ABS also have very similar physical properties, which also makes HIPS a great material for 3D printing on its own. In terms of density, tensile strength and hardness, HIPS stands shoulder to shoulder with ABS. This means that a HIPS filament is a perfect material for 3D printing when you need a soluble product that can be easily sanded, machined, painted and glued.

How do you work with HIPS?

HIPS prints best in a temperature range of 230 to 240 ° C. If the nozzle temperature is too low, the HIPS filament will not liquefy properly and result in under-extrusion. Next, the temperature of the print bed should be kept in the range of 90 to 110 ° C. To ensure that the HIPS adheres to the print bed, the use of Kapton tape or a Kapton spray is recommended.

HIPS can be used at high print speeds of up to 70 mm / s. However, the best results are obtained at low speeds (less than 40 mm / s). This is especially important when printing designs with intricate details.

After the print job, you need to let the print cool down completely. A 3D print made with HIPS is very prone to warping if it has not cooled down completely. We recommend keeping the fan at low speed or even turning it off completely. Gradual cooling reduces the risk of warping in the product.

If you are using HIPS as the substrate, all you need to do is soak the print completely in lime for at least 24 hours. The dissolution process can be accelerated by occasionally shaking the container gently.

What are the disadvantages of working with HIPS?

As mentioned earlier, HIPS is an excellent substrate choice when working with ABS. How about working with PLA? PLA has a much lower printing temperature than HIPS, which makes it very incompatible. We recommend polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as an alternative carrier material for PLA prints, as these have similar printing temperatures. PVA dissolves easily in water.

Using HIPS as a filament material for printing also poses some challenges. As mentioned earlier, HIPS works best with a heated print bed to avoid warping. It has also been suggested to use a heated chamber when working with HIPS. These requirements in connection with the high printing temperature of HIPS make working with HIPS an energy-intensive process. HIPS also gives off a slight odor due to the release of styrene. We therefore recommend printing in a well-ventilated room.

What is the best brand for HIPS filaments?

HIPS has grown in popularity as it is a viable alternative to the more common PLA and ABS. Many manufacturers have faithfully released their own HIPS filament products.

The HIPS filaments sold by GizmoDorks are currently some of the best-selling. They are available in sizes 1.75mm and 3mm and can be purchased in 1kg spools.

Amazon

Matter hacker hip stuff

MatterHackers also has its own HIPS filament products, which are also available in 1.75mm and 3mm sizes. Their products are available in black or white and can be bought in 1kg spools.

Amazon

Hips white filament

FormFutura offers two types of HIPS filament products. Their LimoSolve line is natural (white) in color and does not contain any additives. Therefore it is particularly suitable for dissolving in limes. Their line of EasyFil is sold to those who want to use HIPS as a building material. It’s a little softer and more flexible than standard HIPS filaments, resulting in products that are more durable and impact-resistant. Your EasyFil filaments are available in white, black, gray, red and dark blue.

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Black hips 3D printing material

After all, the eSun HIPS filament products sold on the Lulzbot online store probably have the greatest variety of colors. The filaments are only available in 3 mm sizes and 1 kg spools, but have a dazzling selection of 14 colors. This strain is perfect if you want to make prints that are 100% HIPS.

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The abstract

material High impact polystyrene (HIPS)
Applications – Primarily as a carrier material for ABS builds

– Can also be used alone
characteristics – Stronger than standard polystyrene

– Durable but flexible

– Has high impact resistance

– Light

– Waterproof
Dissolves into Lime solvent
Recommended printing temperature 230 to 240 ° C.
Recommended bed temperature 90 to 110 ° C.
Bed liability Kapton tape or Kapton spray
speed Up to 70 mm / s, but recommended speeds are 40 mm / s or less
cooling Fan is not recommended, but can be used at low speed

HIPS has become increasingly popular as an excellent carrier material for prints with ABS, but it has also grown in popularity as a stand-alone filament material. Prints made from HIPS are strong and flexible, durable without being brittle, and have excellent impact resistance. If you’re looking for a new dimension in 3D printing, we recommend playing around with HIPS. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Warning; 3D printers should never be left unattended. They can pose a fire hazard.

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best-petg-filament
19 Dec
Blog

PETG Filament: Properties, Learn how to Use, and Finest Manufacturers

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Although PLA and ABS are still the most common filaments used in 3D printing today, alternative materials are becoming increasingly popular. One of these alternative options, PETG, has become popular because of its exceptional durability, good adhesion, and resistance to degradation by water and other chemicals. If you’re wondering what exactly PETG is and how to work with it, you’ve come to the right place.

What is PETG?

PETG is a variation of the very popular polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is one of the most common plastics in the world today and is used in food containers, water bottles, and even clothing fiber. Due to its high mechanical strength, its resistance to extreme temperatures and its ability to restrict moisture, it and its various variants are useful in the food industry, as a thermal insulation material or as a precursor for engineering resins.

The addition of glycol during the polymerization process results in the formation of a “glycol-modified” PET or PETG. The addition of glycol results in plastic that is more durable, less brittle, clearer, and easier to use. PETG is widely used for outdoor signage because of its excellent printability and lamination properties. Other uses for PETG include medical and food containers, electronic devices, credit or gift cards, store fittings, and prostheses.

Why use PETG?

As mentioned earlier, PETG offers durability and impact resistance that is even superior to PET. Working with PETG is also easier than PET, as PET easily becomes cloudy and brittle when overheated. The added glycol in PETG removes this limitation by preventing the material from crystallizing and thus becoming fragile. Its temperature-resistant properties also make PETG an excellent material for containers for medical applications, as PETG can be sterilized or autoclaved without it breaking.

PETG has shown good chemical resistance, be it to acidic or alkaline substances. It also retains the excellent moisture blocking property of PET, making it a good choice for containers for water or other beverages. It is also suitable for containers, which are easier to grip due to their softer and pliable nature.

In terms of how easy it is to 3D print, PETG’s temperature resistance and excellent layer adhesion have made it less prone to warping and shrinkage. It has been described that PETG filaments have a combination of the best properties of PLA and ABS: They are stronger and more temperature-resistant, yet easy to process.

As a thermoplastic, one of the most interesting properties of PETG is that it is 100% recyclable. It can be shaped and reshaped over and over again by heating without the material deteriorating. This means that waste material (e.g. backing) and printing errors can be converted into new prints and this process can be repeated indefinitely.

Due to its properties, we recommend the use of PETG filaments for printed products that may be exposed to sudden or prolonged loads, such as: B. Protective components and mechanical parts. PETG filaments are also a good material when printing parts that are supposed to come into contact with food material, e.g. B. Cups and food containers.

How do you work with PETG filaments?

The first thing to do when working with PETG filament is to ensure that the printer model you are using has extruder temperatures of 220 to 245 ° C. The bed temperature must also be kept at 70 to 75 ° C or a little higher in the first shifts.

We achieved the best results with blue painter’s tape for adhesion to the print bed. With or without heating, this type of adhesion results in a fairly smooth floor finish. If you want a glossy, glass-like finish, you’ll need to use a heated borosilicate glass print bed. For a heated glass bed, we recommend a temperature of 50 to 60 ° C. A thin layer of non-perfumed hairspray also improves adhesion. BuildTak print surfaces are also very suitable for the adhesion of PETG prints.

If you want your print to be exceptionally durable, we recommend fanless printing. If the molten PETG comes into contact with the previous layer at a high temperature, this leads to very strong layer adhesion. The disadvantage of this strategy is that it may tend to be stringed, resulting in a print that is less detailed or may need further processing. To fix this, we recommend printing without a fan for the first two layers and with a fan (100%) for all subsequent layers.

The high printing temperature of PETG makes working with it susceptible to clothing, especially if the extruder nozzle is placed too close to the bed. We recommend leaving a gap of approx. 0.2 mm between the nozzle and the print bed so that the melted plastic has more space to deposit. If this setting does not work for you, we recommend moving the nozzle away from the bed in small steps until there is no longer any visible covering.

If strings are still appearing, you may need to slow down the print speed. We recommend a setting of approx. 55 mm / s or even only 15 mm / s.

Another thing to note is that PETG filaments are hygroscopic, which means they are actively absorbing moisture from their surroundings. PETG plastic must be packed in an airtight container, e.g. A vacuum-sealed bag with a couple of desiccant packs. Printing with wet PETG filament results in a product that is significantly weaker than expected.

What are the limitations of PETG?

The main drawbacks to using PETG are finding the “sweet spot” for your printer’s settings to produce a print that is both permanent and detailed. Certain settings are required to get the best results with PETG printing. PETG isn’t as easy to work with as PLA, which means you’ll likely need to experiment for a while before you get good results. Once you get the settings that work, printing with PETG should be a breeze.

PETG is a very poor choice of material for support structures, precisely because of its excellent adhesion. Removing support structures made with PETG can be very difficult, but not impossible.

The resulting PETG print, while permanent, can be weakened by UV light. If you are printing a product that is designed to be exposed to constant outdoor exposure, you can expect its strength to decrease over time. PETG products are also more easily scratched than those made from PET.

What are the best brands of PETG filament?

PETG is an easy-to-make material and has developed a large market for 3D printing. Manufacturers have responded with a variety of PETG filament products, the best of which are featured here.

MatterHackers’ PETG filament line of products is one of the most popular today. It is available in different colors, e.g. B. White, Green and Blue. Your PETG filaments are sold in 3.00 mm size and 1 kg spools. MatterHackers PETG filament has performed exceptionally well in terms of both strength and appearance, making its product one of the first choices if you are looking for a good PETG product in the market.

Amazon

Hatchbox Petg 3D Printing Filament

HATCHBOX is another well-known product made from 3D printing filaments and its PETG product certainly doesn’t disappoint. Your PETG filaments are also available in different colors. They currently offer 1.75mm filaments in 1kg spools.

Amazon

colorfabb-petg-material

ColorFabb’s XT series is the line of PETG filament products. They are characterized by long-lasting products that are temperature-resistant and have low odor emissions during printing. The prints made from the XT filaments offer a reasonable balance between mechanical strength and visual appeal. They come in a variety of colors (including transparent) and are sold in sizes 1.75mm and 3.00mm. ColorFabb offers 0.75 kg spools for its PETG filaments.

Amazon

Taulman-3d-Petg

Taulman 3D also has its own line of PETG filaments, marketed under the N-Vent line as Eastman Amphora 3D Polymer AM1800. Their N-Vent products are available in 1.75mm and 3mm sizes and in 1 pound spools. There is also a wide variety of colors available for the N-Vent line of PETG filaments.

Amazon

cheap petg filament

The PETG filaments sold by PRILINE are probably some of the cheapest on the market, which makes them good budget options. They are sold in 1kg spools that are 1.75mm in size and come in a variety of colors. Although less expensive, PRILINE products still deliver the standard thicknesses of PETG material.

Amazon

The abstract

material Glycol modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG)
Applications – Suitable for high-strength, impact-resistant applications

– Can be sterilized, so it is suitable for food and beverage containers
Recommended printing temperature 220 to 245 ° C.
Recommended bed temperature 70 to 75 ° C; 50 to 60 ° C for glass print bed
Bed liability – Blue painter’s tape (recommended) for heated and unheated bed

– Glass heated bed with a touch of hairspray

– BuildTak printing surface
speed Slow printing speed of 55 mm / s or less; can be as low as 15 mm / s
cooling No fan for the first two layers, then fan with 100% setting for all subsequent layers

More and more 3D printing users have started to see the benefits of working with PETG filaments. Although they can be difficult to work with at the beginning, as they are less forgiving than PLA when it comes to printer settings, this “sweet spot” is well worth the effort for prints that look great and have excellent mechanical strength.

Prints made with PETG are sturdy but have just the right amount of compliance, which makes them extremely durable. The strength of PETG doesn’t stop there: it has excellent layer adhesion, has a lower chance of warping or shrinking, and is 100% recyclable. If you want to go beyond PLA and ABS, we recommend taking PETG for a spin.

Warning; 3D printers should never be left unattended. They can pose a fire hazard.

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Evonik develops the "world’s first" PEEK filament in implant-grade quality for 3D printing
19 Dec
Blog

Evonik develops the “world’s first” PEEK filament in implant-grade high quality for 3D printing

Evonik claims it is the first company in the world to have developed a polymer filament based on polyetheretherketone (PEEK) in implant quality for use as a 3D printing material for implants.

This high-performance material can be used in FFF technology (Fused Filament Fabrication) and is intended to enable the additive manufacture of three-dimensional plastic parts for medical implants in the human body.

The new PEEK filament is based on Vestakeep i4 G, a highly viscous implant material from Evonik. The product, which has impressive biocompatibility, biostability and X-ray transparency, is easy to process and has for years established itself as a high-performance material for medical technology applications such as spinal implants, sports medicine and maxillofacial surgery.

Evonik will also offer a lower-cost version of its PEEK filament for FFF technology in test quality. The test material has exactly the same processing and mechanical product properties as the implant material – but without the documentation required for approval in applications for medical devices.

This offers a cost-effective way of adapting the processing properties of the high-performance plastic for printing processes. The natural colored filament with a diameter of 1.75 mm is wound on 500 gram spools, which are suitable for direct use in standard FFF 3D printers for PEEK materials. In the first quarter of 2019, the test quality will be followed by an implant grade of Vestakeep i4 G, which can be provided with the required extensive approval documentation.

The development of the world’s first PEEK filament expands Evonik’s existing range of polymer materials for 3D printing. The specialty chemicals company is the world’s leading manufacturer of polyamide (PA) 12 powders, which have been used in additive production technologies for over 20 years. In addition to PEEK filament and PA 12 powders, the material portfolio also includes flexible PEBA powders.

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Roboze adopts leading SABIC filament for FFF 3D printers
19 Dec
Blog

Roboze adopts main SABIC filament for FFF 3D printers

Roboze, an Italian 3D printing company specializing in FFF solutions, has partnered with SABIC, a global diversified chemical manufacturer headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Roboze’s printer platform now features a new polycarbonate filament for SABIC’s FFF.

It was presented at the formnext 3D printing exhibition in Frankfurt last November and is a unique polycarbonate copolymer, which is characterized by high impact resistance and ductility at low temperatures (down to -30 ° C). It is designed for demanding applications in industries such as aerospace, consumer, and automotive.

High performance polycarbonate

In contrast to standard polycarbonates, this new material can achieve up to four times better notched Izod impact at room temperature and up to three times higher impact at -30 ° C, depending on the orientation of the print.

Keith Cox, Senior Business Leader for Additive Manufacturing at SABIC, said, “We are pleased that Roboze is offering LEXAN EXL AMHI240F filament on its printer platform. Our vision of helping the additive manufacturing industry expand the use of engineering materials in end-use applications fits well with Roboze’s ability to deliver high quality printers for use in industrial environments. “

The new EXL filament. Image via Roboze

From mid-2018, Roboze, manufacturer of 3D printers for high-temperature and high-performance polymers, will add the filament SABIC LEXAN ™ EXL AMHI240F to its range. This addition increases the versatility of its metal replacement materials such as PEEK and carbon PEEK.

A fruitful collaboration

At this week’s Rapid + TCT show at Roboze booth 2539, samples of parts printed by Roboze using EXL AMHI240F filament can be seen.

The founder and CEO of Roboze Alessio Lorusso said of this new collaboration: “The new SABIC polycarbonate filament is extraordinary! The results of the first tests made us very satisfied and allow us to further expand the range of high-performance materials in our machines. We look forward to working with a company as innovative as SABIC. “

The Roboze One 3D printer. Image via Roboze

This comes just weeks after Roboze unveiled its new headquarters earlier this month to quadruple its manufacturing capacity.

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The picture shown shows an EXL filament ductility test. Image via Roboze

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Tariff Expansion Set To Hit 3D-Printing Right In The Filament
19 Dec
Blog

Tariff Growth Set To Hit 3D-Printing Proper In The Filament

Only a few weeks after the introduction of the tariffs, which will increase the cost of many electronic components from China by 25%, a second round of tariffs is to begin, which will deal another blow to hackers. And this time it hits the very heart of our community: 3D printing.

A quick look at the US Trade Representative’s final customs list reveals no obvious cause for concern. Among the hundreds of specific items listed, there is no “additive manufacturing filaments” or anything else that would suggest that 3D printing accessories are being targeted. In the second list of tariff articles, which is tucked into a polymer chemist’s shopping list, there are, however, hidden some entries for “monofilaments with cross-sectional dimensions greater than 1 mm”. Uh-oh!

This seems specifically to target the typical 1.75mm filament that most FDM printers love to eat. However, in the line items, the prohibited line items are specifically listed as polymers made from ethylene, acrylic, and vinyl chloride. Neither PLA nor ABS, the most popular filaments, fit into any of these categories. The next line item, however, seems to be the gotcha: “Monofilament nesoi [Not Elsewhere Specified or Indicated]Made of plastics other than ethylene, vinyl chloride and acrylic polymers. “This appears to include plastic filaments of any size made from a different polymer than those listed above. This represents a broad category of products that can include anything from fishing line to spools of weed bat lines. And apparently PLA and ABS printer filament.

But wait; it gets worse. Not only finished filaments apparently fall below the 25% tariff, but so do the raw polymers that go into making them, with both ABS and PLA getting their own line items in other parts of the list. It is particularly revealing that none of these line items contain modifiers. There’s no mention of shape or viscosity or modifying chemistry like most of the other polymers on the list. That seems very broad and seems to give customs brokers a lot of leeway to beat the tariff for any shipment of raw ABS or PLA. This is bad news for US filament manufacturers who source their PLA and ABS from China.

Has any of this bad news filtered its way through the market? It doesn’t seem; A non-exhaustive search in the price history of PLA filaments for camel camel shows that the price of filaments made in China has been stable in recent months, so the market has not yet taken the tariff into account. However, with the tariff slated to go into effect on August 23, we would expect that to change soon.

As with any tariff, the impact on the consumer’s bottom line is difficult to predict. Markets are flexible and adapt to the challenges they face by switching suppliers and finding new ways to do business. In this case, many countries other than China make both PLA and ABS, so manufacturers can switch suppliers if it makes sense. But world trade is a complex web of agreements and alliances that the little guy doesn’t often take into account. So, you can bet that this tariff will have an impact on 3D printer filament pricing. Since the tasks start in less than two weeks, we’ll soon know how much this affects.

Thanks to [Scott McGimpsey] for the heads on this one.

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Ninjaflex TPU filament
19 Dec
Blog

TPU Filament: Properties, Use It, and Finest Manufacturers

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For most 3D printing needs, the standard PLA and ABS filaments are reliable enough in terms of product quality and processability. However, there can be very specific requirements that require an alternative 3D printing filament material. One such alternative is TPU or thermoplastic polyurethane. In this article we will discuss the unique properties of TPU filaments, their uses, how they work, and the best brands currently available in the market.

What is TPU?

In order to better understand ThermoPlastic Polyurethane (TPU) and its usability, it can be useful to look at its functional ancestor – ThermoPlastic Elastomer (TPE). Until a few years ago, TPE was the material of choice when printing flexible materials.

TPE is essentially a plastic with rubber-like properties. It can be stretched to twice its original length and return to its original shape without permanent deformation. However, the softness of the TPE filament made it difficult to work with. With a bank hardness of only 85A, TPE filaments tended to be poorly handled by extruders that were not designed for flexible filaments.

TPU is the newer and stronger variant of TPE. By combining low polarity segments (or soft segments) and high polarity segments (or hard segments) into a single polymer chain, TPU offers a better combination of elasticity, rigidity and flexibility. The resulting product has a slightly higher Shore hardness of 94A, which makes it easier to use the 3D printing extruder mechanism.

What are the benefits of using TPU?

TPU is a product that offers a number of unique properties. It has a rubbery elasticity that sets it apart from the more common ABS and PLA. It’s also abrasion resistant and has proven to work well even at low temperatures. TPU has generally been used to print products that have to bend or bend during use, e.g. B. sporting goods, medical equipment, shoes, inflatables, external cases for mobile devices and instrument panels for motor vehicles. Because of its resistance to oils, greases and a wide variety of solvents, it has also been used for industrial applications.

In terms of processability, TPU is much easier to handle than TPE. The extremely flexible nature of TPE makes it quite problematic to work with, especially when a Bowden extruder is used. The length of the tube between the extruder and the hot end introduces some complication when using a flexible filament because the filament can contract within the tube when pushed by the extruder. With a more solid structure, TPU solves most problems when working with TPE filaments.

The layer-to-layer adhesion of TPU is usually excellent due to its very soft nature. This means that prints made from TPU should be very durable.

How do you work with TPU?

We recommend using direct extruders when working with flexible filaments. As mentioned earlier, the length of tubing the filament has to traverse in a Bowden extruder makes the process a bit difficult. It is still possible to use a Bowden extruder, but additional adjustments to the printer settings may be required to get good results. Newer 3D printers that use Bowden extruders have been designed to alleviate the problems with flexible filaments. If you are unsure of what your printer will do, the best thing to do is to ask the manufacturer if your particular model is approved for use with flexible filament.

An extrusion temperature of 200 to 220 ° C is recommended for TPE filaments. We also recommend the use of a heated bed platform with a temperature of 80 to 100 ° C. TPE has very good adhesive properties, so surfaces such as glass or aluminum should not pose a problem. For best results, we still recommend using Kapton’s tape or Blue Painter’s tape.

When working with flexible filaments, it is recommended that you print at very low print speeds. Flexible filaments tend to bend and contract under heavy use, so rapid pressure will likely clog your extruder. A setting of 15 mm / s is recommended, but you can print up to 30 mm / s with satisfactory results. This may depend on the specific model you are using. Therefore, you may have to start at a low setting and move up to see what works.

Flexible filaments are not particularly prone to warping when printed. Hence, you can use a medium or high setting fan. This way, you can keep good detail on your prints without sagging or melting in a messy way. We also recommend not using a fan in the first two shifts in order to ensure very good bed adhesion.

Pullbacks are sometimes required when your design requires the extruder to travel long gaps without printing. However, withdrawals can be especially problematic when using flexible filaments as they can be sensitive to rapid movement. We recommend turning retraction off entirely, especially if this is your first time using flexible filaments. If this cannot be avoided, you can set a very low retraction speed or minimize the need for retraction in your design.

What are the limitations of TPU?

The main disadvantage of using flexible filaments like TPU is the added challenge of handling them during printing. As mentioned earlier, not all 3D printers are designed to use flexible filaments. Printers that use Bowden extruders are particularly problematic. However, newer models should already have taken measures to be more compatible with flexible filaments. The more solid property of TPU should also enable more diverse applications.

TPU can also have poor bridging properties, resulting in multi-blob printing and stringing. You have to determine the “sweet spot” of the combination of print temperature, print speed and retraction speed in order to achieve good print quality with the flexible TPU.

Another disadvantage to making prints with TPU is that they cannot be finished to give a polished and smooth look. Unlike PLA or ABS, TPU does not dissolve in simple chemicals like acetone. To a large extent, TPU printing is about “what you see is what you get”.

What are the best TPU brands available?

Flexible filaments like TPU can serve a niche market because they meet very specific requirements. However, there are very few similar products. Manufacturers have long recognized the demand for flexible filaments and have responded with a variety of products.

Ninjatek’s Ninjaflex TPU line is probably the most famous line of TPU filaments today. They are available in sizes 1.75mm and 3.00mm and are sold in 0.5kg spools. They have a wide variety of fancy colors (Flamingo or Radiant Orchid, anyone?) So that you can let your creativity run wild.

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Ninjaflex Cheetah TPU

Ninjatek also has another line of TPU filaments. The Cheetah product line is designed to improve the user experience when printing with flexible filaments by allowing them to print at higher speeds of up to 60mm / s. Ninjatek claims that its Cheetah products can be printed on any 3D printer model and at ABS or PLA speeds. If you are not sure whether your printer can handle flexible filament, the Cheetah line of products is the safest choice.

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Polyflex TPU material

Polymaker’s Polyflex line is another well-known line of TPU filament products. They are sold in sizes 1.75mm and 3.00mm and in 0.75kg spools. There is a good range of colors too, although quite limited compared to others. The feedback on this product has been great all round so you can’t go wrong.

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Cheap TPU filament

PRILINE has its own line of TPU filaments sold on 1kg spools that are 1.75mm in size. With a choice of 7 colors, you can play those creative muscles as much as you want. PRILINE recommends that you use the TPU filaments with a direct drive extruder and print at lower speeds than normal.

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Sainsmart TPU material

If you are not sure whether you can print comfortably with flexible filaments, you can try out SAINSMART’s small 250g spools for your first time. Their TPU filaments are 1.75mm in size and are available in a small range of colors. If you are satisfied with your product, you can also buy your TPU filaments in 0.8 kg spools.

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The abstract

material Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)
Applications – sports goods

– footwear

– Medical equipment

– Cell phone cases

– inflatables

– automotive instrument panels
characteristics – Rubber-like elasticity

– Abrasion resistance

– Resistance to oils, greases and solvents

– Easier to use than TPE

– Excellent layer-to-layer adhesion
Recommended printing temperature 200 to 220 ° C.
Recommended bed temperature 80 to 100 ° C.
Print speed Very low; 15 mm / s to 30 mm / s
adhesion Kapton’s tape or blue painter’s tape
cooling No fan for the first 2 shifts; Fan at medium to high setting for all subsequent shifts
retreat It is recommended that you disable retraction entirely. If this cannot be helped, the retraction should be set to the minimum speed, or the design should be maintained with the minimum retraction in mind

TPU filament is quite difficult to work with, but they are the best filament products if you want to print flexible and high impact products. Flexible filaments haven’t quite caught up with common filaments like PLA or ABS or even alternatives like PETG just because they can be difficult to work with.

Fortunately, new 3D printers are being developed to work better with flexible filaments. TPU in itself represents an improvement in making flexible filaments more user-friendly. It’s a whole different dimension of plastic filament 3D printing, and we hope we’ve helped you become more open to its exciting possibilities.

Warning; 3D printers should never be left unattended. They can pose a fire hazard.

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